SzSA YearBook 2018/19

SZENT-GYÖRGYI MENTORS
JÓZSEF MIHÁLY
Developmental Genetics Unit,
Institute of Genetics,
Biological Research Center of the
Hungarian Academy of Sciences
Address: Temesvári krt. 62., H-6726 Szeged, Hungary
RESEARCH AREA
The highly dynamic actin cytoskeleton is one of the
structurally and functionally most important cellular
constituent. The actin cytoskeleton is involved in such
fundamental cell biological processes as the maintenance
of cell shape, cell division, intracellular transport and
motility. Beyond that, the actin cytoskeleton is known to
play a central role in the growth and proper navigation
of neuronal axons and dendrites that are necessary to
the formation of a functional nervous system. Our major
scientific interest is to gain a better understanding of the
molecular mechanisms of axonal growth and guidance by
uncovering the role of the growth cone actin cytoskeleton
regulatory proteins.
Considering that certain developmental disorders,
accidental injuries and neuro degenerative diseases often
result in severe axonal growth defects or axonal injuries,
our studies are of potential biomedical relevance as they
may help to develop more efficient neuronal regeneration
methods.
TECHNIQUES AVAILABLE IN THE LAB
Classical and molecular Drosophila genetics, molecular
biology, cell biology, cytoskeleton analysis, immunohistochemistry,
the basic methods of biochemistry,
confocal and super-resolution microscopy, behavioral tests,
live imaging, digital image analysis.
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Szikora, S., Földi, I., Tóth, K., Migh, E., Vig, A., Bugyi, B., Maléth,
J., Hegyi, P., Kaltenecker, P., Sanchez-Soriano, N., Mihály, J.
(2017) The formin DAAM is required for coordination of the
actin and microtubule cytoskeleton in axonal growth cones.
J Cell Sci 130(15): 2506-2519.
Gombos, R., Migh, E., Antal, O., Mukherjee, A., Jenny, A.,
Mihály, J. (2015) The Formin DAAM Functions as Molecular
Effector of the Planar Cell Polarity. Pathway during Axonal
Development in Drosophila. J Neurosci 35(28): 10154-67.
Nelson, KS., Khan, Z., Molnár, I., Mihály, J., Kaschube, M.,
Beitel, GJ. (2012) Drosophila Src regulates anisotropic apical
surface growth to control epithelial tube size. Nat Cell Biol
14: 518-525.
Matusek, T., Gombos, R., Szécsényi, A., Sánchez-Soriano, N.,
Czibula, A., Pataki, C., Gedai, A., Prokop, A., Raskó, I., Mihály,
J. (2008). Formin proteins of the DAAM subfamily play a role
during axon growth. J. Neurosci 28: 13310-13319.
Boutros, M., Mihaly, J., Bouwmeester, T., Mlodzik, M. (2000)
Signaling specificity by Frizzled receptors in Drosophila.
Science 288: 1825-1828.
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